Flags proudly displayed along Market Street require weekly maintenance, according to flag official Jack Bennett. As many as seven flags have been stolen this year.
The flower baskets may be gone for the season, but flags will adorn Market Street until Veteran’s Day.
Retired Army Colonel Jack Bennett has been tending the task of flag quality control overseer.
While monitoring the 32 flags displayed along the three-block street, Bennett says there are several things he watches on a weekly basis. The main issue is stolen flags.
“We had seven flags stolen this year - pole and all,” Bennett said, although he was able to recover two of them. Five are still unaccounted for.
“They’re somewhere, but they’re certainly not on the street or in my storage facility,” he said.
How are they stolen? Bennett isn’t sure how thieves are getting the flags from the holders, but he has an idea.
“We’re considering drilling it by the mounts and putting a bolt all the way through with a lock on it. That’s going to be a real pain in the neck, but you have to do something. We can’t keep losing this many flags. It’s too expensive.”
Bennett estimates each flag, pole, and hardware to cost approximately $100.
Bennett also watches for flags that have become damaged during the season.
“We had two flags that needed replaced this year because they became damaged.”
He said that he has removed those flags and replaced them with ones that were worn but usable now through Veteran’s Day, when the older flags will be retired.
Bennett said he doesn’t climb ladders anymore, so he always needs help to install, remove, and do maintenance. He uses a long pole to maneuver the flags when they get wrapped around themselves after strong winds.
Anyone wishing to assist Bennett with his task can contact him at 724-525-7117.